I’m not playing rugby this spring for the first time since 1999. Why? Because I am great with child. But, as I cannot bear to be away from the sport, I volunteered to coach the Allegheny Rugby Union’s U23 women’s team. To do this, I needed to re-up my coaching certification, which expired while I was in graduate school, so I headed to Columbus, OH last weekend for the CDP clinic. I was enrolled in the “Developing Rugby Skills” version and looked forward to a great opportunity to network, share knowledge, and just talk about rugby for 2 solid days.
As I settled down in my classroom among the 20 students, many of whom coached women’s teams, I realized something pretty scary: I was the only woman student. There were 19 men and little old me, and boy was I aware of the gender gap. While I was relieved to see one of the facilitators was a woman (former Eagle Nancy Fitz), I couldn’t believe I was the only woman enrolled in the more advanced workshop.
Try as I might to pay attention in class, all I could think about was the lack of female representation in the coaching ranks. In my ten years of playing, I had only one female head coach and one other female assistant coach. If we thought women were under-represented on the pitch in American rugby, I was shaken to be confronted with our small showing behind the whistle. Sure, we’ve got women coaching our national teams, but what about the salt of the earth rugby teams, the tiny Midwestern colleges or DII women’s teams peppered throughout this vast country? If those teams are lucky enough to have a coach, I bet that coach is a dude more often that not.
I think it’s so important for our young female players to know that women are capable strategic masterminds, willing and able to guide teams to greatness not only in the uniform, but also from the sidelines. And I know we are out there doing it, at all levels of the game. But we need more. The future generations of female players need to see more of us large and in charge, holding a clipboard. They need to see themselves in positions of leadership in our sport to solidify their commitment to the lifelong endeavor that is rugby.
I know it’s hard. So many of us give everything we have to our clubs. After a decade or so of missed family functions and constant travel, it’s hard to imagine another commitment in the coaching ranks. But our young female players need us behind the whistle almost as much as (if not more than) they need us beside them on the pitch.
How many of you are considering coaching when your glory days are over? Or even while you’re still playing? I hope the answer is all of you, even for one season, even for one training here and there as an assistant. You have no idea how big a difference you’ll make.
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I got my coaching certification this summer, kind of on a whim, but was surprised at how much I want to actually use it now. But I’m stuck with the dilemma of not wanting to coach while I’m still playing and I’m SO not ready to give that up. Might have to start out helping with the high school girls or even middle school(once we get it started).
My club hosted a coaching certification this summer and we had about 5 women out of a total around 20. Was good to see that.
Although, I do agree that the more women the better in the ranks of coaches, I haver to agree with the first commentor. Everything has it’s time and the time to play is the time to play. Soon enough, time will conspire against even the toughest of all competitors to rob them of their gloryious playing time. Coach later when it is the best way to contribute, but play now!!
You can do both. You can’t play womens and coach college since they have conflicting game schedules but you can coach summer youth rugby in your off season. If you don’t have a summer youth rugby program you should look at morrisrugby.com as they have a great program. Or you can coach U19 rugby as there games tend to be on Friday’s and Sunday’s. Or you can have your certification just to have as I learned a lot about myself and the way I play from attending the coaching clinic and then you can do guest coaching at local colleges as a lot of the new colleges have coaches that have never played or played only a few seasons. Getting coaching certification doesn’t have to be an all or nothing approach.
Yay Katy!
I coach the SF Lady Fog, and play for the Men’s side. It’s a balance, even with seasons separated fall and spring.
I would LOVE for one of mine to become a coach. How do I encourage this with current players?
I started coaching when I moved to Colorado Springs and there wasn’t a local women’s side – so I ended up coaching at the Air Force Academy. When I went to Denver for my coaching certification course, I was also the only female in a class of 30 or so.
Rugby at the college, high school and youth level is being stifled by a lack of qualified coaches. Current players REALLY need to coach and they really need some incentive.
I understand people’s discomfort with balancing the demands of playing and coaching. But there is no way forward without coaches, NOW. If the people around you can’t accept that you’re helping to build the local rugby community by coaching, then that is their issue.
I love coaching and I love playing. Doing the former has reduced the amount of the latter. But I have also grown in my appreciation for the time I spend on the field and as a player all around.